Suction-filter.



H. E. KIER.

SUCTION FILTER.

APPLICATION FILED BEPT. 29, 1909. 978,381 Patented Dec. 13, 1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1 III I H. E. KIER.

SUCTION FILTER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 20, 1909.

Patented Dec. 13, 1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

H. E. KIERQ SUCTION FILTER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 29, 1909.

978,381 Patented 113, 1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

1 0; W W Ifi 5 51400141301, M gm i fl/wu H. E. KIER.

SUCTION FILTER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 29, 1909.

Patented Dec. 13, 1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

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/2 zbw: C] Horne-1 1% inc ooco HARRY E. KIER, OF COLORADO SPBINGQCOLORADO.

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Specification of Letters ratent.

Patented Dec. 13, 1910.

' Application 111m se temberae, 190a serial in. 520,190.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY E. Kmn, a

citizen of the United States, residing at invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, and to theletters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part ofthis specification.

My invention relates to what I term a suction filter, my object being toprovide a construction of this class which shall be continuous andautomatic in its action.

In my improvement the filtering apparatus comprises a rotary structureupon which is mounted a series of horizontally disposed trays adapted toreceive the pulp or solution to be filtered, a suction pipe beingconnected with each of these trays, the said pipe communicating withthree valvecontrolled conduits through one of which the strong solutionis drawn; through another of which the weak solution is drawn andthrough the third of which, air is forced for the purpose of removingthe cake of slimes or ore from the tray after the same has been deprivedof its precious metal contents in solution. The material in each tray issubjected to these three operations during each rotation of thetray-carrying frame and the valves connected with the three conduits areautomatically opened andclosed in order to bring about this result sinceonly one operation can be carried on at any one time. Provision is madefor automatically tilting each tray to the dumping osition,simultaneously with the introductlon of air for the purpose of removingthe cake of material.

Having briefly outlined my improved construction I will proceed todescribe the same in detail reference being made to the accompanyingdrawing in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof.

In this drawing, Figure 1 is a vertical section taken through myimproved apparatus approximately on the line 11 Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is ahorizontal section taken on the line 2-2 Fig. 1 looking downwardly. Fig.3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 Fi 1 looking downwardly. In thisview the 01- low rotatable shaft and its attachments are omitted, theonly object of the view being to lllustrate the automatic operation ofthe valves for opening and closing the various condults, the partsbeingshown on a lar er scale. Fig. 4.- IS a fragmentary view wit aportlon of the apparatus shown artially 1n section and on a largerscale. ig. 5 is a top plan view of one of the trays, the fibrous filterbeing partly broken away. Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line 6-6 Fi5. Fig. 7 is a section taken on the line 7 Fig. 2 looking in thedirection of the arrow. In this view the position of the tray-operatingarms with reference to the sto s fortilting the trays is indicated bydotte lines.

v The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all theviews.

Let the numeral 5 designate-a stationary frame work which as shown inthe drawin consists of upright supports 6 to the top 0 which is secureda circular platform 7 having a relatively large central opening8 inwhich is located a half bearing member 9 cooperating with the stationarymember 10 secured to uprights 12 of the frame work by stud bolts 13. Thebearing member 9 is provided with a collar 14 connected with the body ofthe bearing by webs 15 which brid e a space 16 between the collar andthe body of the bearing member. The collar 14 is brazed to a verticallydisposed hollow column 17 provided with an exteriorly located collar 18to which is made fast a series of horizontally disposed bars 19 to whoseouter extremit is secured a ring 20 having a number of ange members 21projecting interiorl from the lower surface of the ring. The ars 19 areconnected intermediate their extremities by bars 22. Between each bar 22and the rin 20, and the outer portions of each pair of a jacent arms 19,is a space 23 in which is located a tray 24 provided with trunnions 25and 26 engaging bearin s 27 and 28 respectively, the bearings 27 eingmounted on the bar 22 and the bearing 28 upon the rin shown in detail inFigs. 5 and 6 and consists of a frame 29 of the general shape of thespace 23. This frame is provided with an interior flange 30 projectingfrom its lower edge and extending entirely around the tray. Resting uponthis flange is a plate 31 which forms the bottom of the tray. Upon thisplate is placed a coarse metal screen 32 20. One of these trays is whichforms a. support for the filtering medium 3:) which may be composed ofcanvas or othersuitable material. Above this filtering medium is placeda retaining frame 36 which engages the outer edge of the filteringmedium and is held in place by fastening de vices 37. To what I willterm the rear extremity of each tray is attached a plate 38 whichengages the adjacent extremity of the retaining frame 36 and extendsupwardly to the top of the frame 29 and thence rearwardly overlappingthe adjacentextremity of another tray. This plate bridges the spacesbetween the trays and permits a continuous feed of thepulp to be treatedwhile the rotary frame is traveling the space between any two trays. Theinteriorly projecting flange members 21 of the ring 20, also forms astop which engages the bottom of the tray whereby the latter issupported in the horizontal position.

The trunnion 26 of each tray, protrudes outwardly beyond its bearing 28and to this protruding extremity, is attached an arm 40 made fast to thetrunnion at 41 and com posed of two members 42 and 43. This arm has theshape of a bell crank lever, and a stop 44 is so mounted on a supportthat it lies in the path of the depending arm 42 (see Fig. 7), wherebywhen any tray reaches this stop, the angle arm is moved from theposition shown at the left of Fig. 7 to the position shown at the rightthereof, whereby the tray is thrown to the dumping position or thatindicated at the left of Figs. 1 and 2. The depending member 42 of theangle arm is thus moved out of the path of the stop 44 and as themovement of the tray continues, the member 43 of this lever comesincontact with the stop pin 45, which returns the angle-shaped armtogether with the tray to its'normal position. Hence it will beunderstood that the dumping of the trays as well as the returning ofthem to their normal position is entirely automatic. It will be observedthat the stops 44 and 46 are mounted on the support 45 at differentelevations,

the stop 46 being more elevated than the stop 44.

The material to be treated and containing the precious metal valuesinsolution, is delivered to the filtering trays through a feed pipe 47which overlaps the trays, whereby each tray while passing the feed pipereceives a quantity of the solution. In the bottom of each tray isformed an opening 48 in which is inserted a nipple 49 with which isconnected a flexible hose or conduit 50. This conduit communicates witha pipe 51 wit-h which are connected two other pipes fastbell-crank-shaped triggers 60, 61 and 62. The trigger 60 is actuated toopen the valve 54 of the pipe 51, by a stop pin 63 located in positionto engage one arm of the trigger 60 and open the valve, after the trayhas passed the feed pipe 47 whereby the suction is applied to the traythrough the pipe 51 for the purpose of removing the strong solution fromthe tray by causmg it to pass through the filtering medium 33. The innerextremity of this pipe 51 connects with a circle tube 84 from whichleads a conduit 65 which passes through an opening in the hollow column17 and is connected with a vertically disposed pipe 66 which turns withthe hollow-column. The lower extremity of the pipe 66, projects belowthe hollow column and enters a stufling box 67 formed at the lowerextremity of the stationary bearingmember 10. The pipe 66 communicateswith a stationary pipe 68 connected by an elbow 69 with a pipe 7 O whichleads to a pump 95 or other suitable suction inducing mechanism wherebythe strong solution is drawn from the tray and filtered by passingthrough the filtering medium 33.

The valve 54 is open for the removal of the strong solution while thetray is traveling from the pin 63 to a pin 64, when the latter acts onthetrigger 60 to close the valve 54 and cut off communication with theconduit through which the strong solution passes. Simultaneously withthe closing of the valve 54, the valve 56 is opened by the engagement ofthe trigger 61 with a stop pin 85. Just before the tray reaches thepositionto close the valve 54 and open the valve 56, water is fed intothe tray through a conduit 86 provided with a valve 87 whereby the cakeof material within the tray which has been deprived of the strongersolution is washed to remove the remaining values in the form of weaksolution; and as soon as the tray reaches the position Where the trigger61 is engaged by the stop pin 85, the valve 56 is opened and the weaksolution resulting from the introduction of the water as aforesaid,drawn off through the pipe 53, to a circle tube 88 which communicateswith an elbow-shaped pipe 89 which communicates with'the hollow column,the latter being in communication with a suction pipe 90 through whichthe weak solution may be drawn off and delivered to any suitablereceptacle. The, valve 56 remains open for the drawing off of the weaksolution from the tray, until the latter reaches a position to cause thetrigger 61 to engage a stop pin 71,

below through the branch pipe 52, thepipe 51, the pipe 50 and the nipple49, whereby the hardened cake of material is loosened, and as soon asthe tray reaches a os1t1on to bring the depending member 0 its angle arm40, into engagement with the stop 44, the tray is turned on itstrunnlons to the position shown at the left of Figs. 1 and 2, wherebythe cake of material which has been loosened by the air pressure frombelow, is dumped out, after which the angle arm 40 of the tray engagesthe stop pm 46, whereby the tra is returned to its normal position andpu p is again fed thereinto through the conduit 47. The air forced intothe tray as aforesaid, passes into the pipe 52, from a circle tube 73which is in communication with the elbow-shaped pipe 74 which passesthrough the hollow column and communicates with an upwardly projectingvertically disposed pipe 75 which terminates in a stufiing box 76inserted in the top of the column. The pipe 75 communicates wlthln thisstuffing box with a stationary a1r delivery pipe 77 which is connectedwith any suitable source of compressed air. It is assumed that the pipe77 remains stationary, while the column and the stufling box 76 turns,the pipe 77 being connected with a stationary'air delivery apparatuswhich makes it impracticable for it to rotate wlth the column. Thestufling box, however, is of such construction as to prevent the leakageof air between the extremities of the pipes 77 and 75. After the trayhas been returned to its normal position, the trigger 62 engages a stoppin 80, which actuates the trigger to close the valve 55 and cut off theintroduction of compressed air to the tray, the said valve being closedjust before the tray moves into position to be recharged from the feedpipe 47.

I have just traced the filtering operation as applied to a single trayduring its entire revolutionwith the rotary column and thefilter-tray-supporting frame. The various operations described inconnection with one tray, is repeated in connection with each tray whilethe filter is in operation, the entire series of operations beingentirely automatic assuming that power is applied to the hollow columnand the tray-carrying frame rotated.

As shown in the drawing (see Fig. 1), the, hollow column is providednear its upper extremity with a fast pulley 78, with which a belt 79connected, whereby power may be transmitted to the hollow column fromany suitable motor.

Attention is called to the fact that the trigger-actuating stops 63, 64,71. 72 and 80 are mounted upon the stationary platform 7 and so arrangedthat they act upon the trig gers connected with the stems of the threevalves 54, 55 and 56 with which the pipes 51,

52 and 53 employed in connection with each tray, are equipped.

It may be stated that in Fig. 3 eight different positions of thetriggers (50, 61 and 62 for controlling the three valves employed inconnection with any one tray, are illustrated. For instance after thepin 63 has acted upon the trigger to open the valve 54, the threetriggers remain in the same position until the tray reaches a positionopposite the actuating ins 64 and 65. It will e observed that in t iisview the three triggers are illustrated twice between the location ofthe in 63 and the locations of the pins 64 an 65. The object of thisillustration is to indicate that the triggers do not change theirpositions while traveling from one of these locations to the other.

Again between the location of the pins 64 and 65 and the location of thepins 71 and 72, the three triggers are once illustrated, thus indicatingthat the valves remain in the same position after leaving the pins (34and 65, until the pins 71 and 72 are reached. Again the triggers areonce illustrated between the pins 71 and 72 and pin 80, for the samepurpose. This view also illustrates that the strong solution is beingdrawn off while any tray is traveling from a position corresponding withthe location of the pin 63, to a position corresponding with the pins641 and 65; also that the weak solution is being drawn off while thetray is traveling from the position corresponding with the pins 64 and(35 until it reaches a position corresponding with the pins 71 and 72;and that the air is forced into the bottom of the tray while the latteris traveling from the position corresponding with the pins 71 and 72until it reaches a position corresponding with the position of the pin80. Furthermore Fig. 3 may also be considered as illustrating the stemsand triggers of the eight different sets of valves 54, 55 and 56illustrated in Fig. 2. It will be noted, however, that in Fig. 3 theplatform 7 is shown on a larger scale than in Fig. 1 and that thevarious valve stems and triggers are correspondingly located. In otherwords Fig. 3 is shown on a larger scale than Figs. 1 and 2. By furthercomparing Figs. 2 and 3, it will be observed that each tray receiveswater from the pipe 86 and the latter is so located that the tray beginsto receive water before it reaches a position where the trigger 60engages the pin 64 whereby the valve 54 is closed to cut off the passageof solution from the tray through the strong solution pas sages; and theopening of the valve 55 by engagement of the trigger 61 with the pin 85,whereby the weak solution is drawn oil through other passages asheretofore explained. In explanation of this it may be stated that thewater is allowed to enter the tray through the pipe 86 before thepassage solution does not have time to reach the strong solutionpassages while the tray is traveling from the position where it receivesthe water to the position where the passage of solution through thestrong solution passages is cut off and the valve opened for the drawingoff of the weak solution through another set of passages as heretoforeexplained.

' From the foregoing description the use and operation of my improvedapparatus will be readily understood. Assuming that the parts areassembled as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, the material to betreated as pulp containing precious metal values in solution, isdischarged through the pipe 47 into the various trays 24, as they moveinto position, it being understood that the hollow column 17 and itsattachments are rotated in the manner heretofore described. The timeduring which any tray is passing the discharge extremity of the pipe 47,is sufficient to fully charge the tray with the pulp to be treated. Assoon as the tray moves beyond the discharge extremity of the feed pipe,the valve 54 of the pipe 51, is opened by the action of the stop pin 63upon the trigger 60 attached to the stem 57 of the said valve. As soonas this valve is opened, the suction through the pipe 51 by virtue ofthe connections heretofore explained, draws the solution containing theprecious metal values through the filtering medium of the tray, thencethrough the pipe 51, into the circle tube 84, thence through the pipes65, 66 and 70, whereby the said solution may be delivered into anysuitable re ceptacle. This passage of the strong solution through thevarious pipes and conduits just mentioned, continues until the tray hasreached such a position (see Fig. 3) that the pin 64 acts on the trigger60, to close the valve 54 whereby the passage of solution through what Iwill term the strong solution passage is cut ofi. Simultaneously withthe closing of the valve 54, the valve 56 is opened by the action of thepin 85 upon the trigger 61 of the stem 58. ing of the valve 56, waterhas been discharged into the tray through the pipe 86 and the traytravels a short distance before the valve 54 is closed and the valve 56opened, since it takes the water some little time to passthrough thefiltering medium of the tray. The pins for closing the valve 54 andopening the valve 56 are so located that the strong solution passagesare closed against the entrance of the solution and the Prior to theopenweak solution passages opened by the time the weak solution due tothe introduction of the water has passed through the filter and beforeany of the weak solution enters the strong solution passages. As soon asthe valve 56 is opened, the weak solution passes from the tray throughthe flexible conduit 50, and thence through the pipe 53, the circle tube88, and the pipe 89 which communicates with the hollow column 17, theweak solution being drawn from the column through the pipe 90 from whichit may be delivered to any suitable receptacle. The drawing off of theweak solution through the aforesaid passages continues until the trayreaches a position whereby the trigger 61 of the stem 58 connected withthe valve 56, is actuated by the pin 71 to close the said valve wherebythe passage of the weak solution is cut otf from the tray.Simultaneously with the closing of the valve 56, the valve 55 is o enedby the engagement of the trigger 62 o the valve stem 59, with the pin72. As soon as this last named valve is opened, air is forced into thebottom of the tray, through the pipes 77, 75, 74, 73, 52, 51 and thencethrough the flexible pipe 50, whereby the cake of material which hasbeen deprived of the solution, is loosened. Shortly after theintroduction of, the air under pressure into the bottom of the tray, thelatter is tilted on its trunnions to the position shown at the left ofFigs. 1 and 2, by the engagement of its lever arm 40 with a pin 44,whereby the cake of material is dumped from the tray. Shortly after thisoccurs, the lever arm 40 is brought into contact with the pin 46, whichreturns the tray to its normal or horizontal position, after which itmoves again into position to be charged from the feed pipe 47 and theoperation heretofore described is repeated.

It will be understood that the filtering operation carried on inconnection with each tray, is substantially identical. Hence thedescription of the said operation in connection with one tray only issuflicient.

As shown in the drawing the suction pipe 90 is connected with a pump 94or other suitable suction-inducing mechanism; while the pipe 77 isconnected with an air pump 96 or other suitable air-forcing apparatus.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is: a

1. In a filter, the combination with a horizontal] disposed rotaryframe,'of a filtering tray ti tably mounted thereon and travelingtherewith, means for delivering to the tray the solution to be filtered,a conduit connected with the bottom of the tray, a valve for controllingthe passage of solution through said conduit, suction means con-- nectedwith the conduit for drawing ofi the solution from the bottom of thefilter, means for opening and closing the said valve at redete'rminedintervals whereby the eriod uring which the solution is drawn 0 may becontrolled,'and means for tilting the tray for dumping purposes, meansfor automati- 'cally' returning it to its normal or horizontal positionafter the dumping operation, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a rotary frame, of a tray mounted thereon andadapted to travel therewith, means for delivering to the tray thesolution to be filtered, a conduit connected with the bottom of saidtray, .two pipes in communication with said conduit, a va ve forcontrolling each pipe, suctioninducing mechanism connected with eachpipe, means for automatically opening the va ve connected with the firstplpe, means for closing the valve connected with the first pipe, andmeans for o ening the valve connected with the second pipesimultaneously with the closing of the valve connected with the firstpipe, and means for delivering water to the tray before the closing ofthe first pipe and the opening of the second .pipe, whereby twodifferent grades of solution are drawn off from the tray, substantiallyas described.

3. The combination with a rotary frame, of a filtering tray mountedthereon and rotating therewith, a conduit connected with the bottom ofsaid tray, two ipes in communication with said con u1t, suctioninducingmechanism connected with each pipe, a valve for controlling each pipe,depending stems connected with each valve, pins in operative relationwith said stems; means for opening and closing each valve as the framerotates and at predetermined intervals, the said means being arran ed toopen the valves of the two pipes at di erent times and to close onevalve simultaneously with the opening of the other.

4. The combination with a rotary frame, of a filtering tray mountedthereon, a conduit'connected with the bottom of the tray, three ipes incommunication with the said conduit, each pipe being rovided with acontrolling valve, suction-inducing mechanism connected with two of thepipes, air forcing mechanism connected with the other pipe, dependingstems connected with each of said valves, pins in operative relationwith said stems as means for opening and closing each valve atpredetermined intervals as the tray rotates, substantially as described.

5. The combination with a rotary frame, of a filtering tray mountedthereon, a conduit connected with the bottom of the tray, three pi esconnected with the conduit, two of them eing suction pipes, and one ofthem being an air-forcing pipe, each pipe bein equipped with acontrolling valve, depen ing stems connected with said valves, pins inoperative relation with said stems as tray, three pipes in communicationwith the said conduit, a valve for controlling the (passage of fluidthrough each pipe, depen ing stems connected w1th each valve, pins inoperative relation with each stem as means for opening and closing thevalve of each pipe, the said pins so arranged that no two va ves areopen at the same time, pumps respectively connected with two of thepipes for drawing off solution from the tray, and air-forcing apparatusfor introducing air to the bottom of the tray through the third pipe,the conduit connected with the bottom of the tray being in commoncommunication with all the pipes, substantially as described.

7. The combination with a rotary frame, of a filtering tray mountedthereon, a conduit connected w1th the bottom of the tray, two pipes incommon communication with said conduit, means for feeding the materialto be treated to the tray, a valve connected with each ipe, means forfeeding water to the tray w en at a predetermined position in its rotarytravel, depending stems connected with said valves, pins in operativerelation with said stems as means for and simultaneously closing thevalve of one pipe and opening the valve of the other pipe, and a pump incommunication with each pipe, whereby two grades of solution are drawnoff from the tray through the respective pipes, substantially asdescribed.

8. The combination with a rotary frame, of a horizontally disposedfiltering tray tiltabl mounted thereon and traveling therewit means forfeedingthe material to be treated to the tray, a ipe in communicationwith the bottom 0 the tray for drawing off the solution, a pump incommunication with said pipe, a valve for controlling the pipe, meansfor opening and closing the said valve during the rotary travel of thetray, and means for automatically tilting the tray for dumping purposesand subsequently returning it to its normal or horizontal position atpredetermined oints of its rotary travel, substantially as escribed.

9. The combination with a rotary frame, of a series of horizontallydisposed trays tiltably mounted thereon, means for feeding the materialto be treated to each tray at a predetermined position in its rotarytravel, means for drawing off the solution from each tray, means fortilting the tray for dumping purposes, and means for subsequentlyrestoring it to its horizontal position at a predetermined point in itsrotary travel, substantially as described.

10. The combination with a rotary frame,

of a series of filtering trays mounted thereon and rotating therewith,of a conduit connected with the bottom of each tray, three pipes incommon communication with the said conduit of each tray, three circletubes with which the respective conduits of each tray are connected, andthree separate pumps in communication with the respective tubes, valvesconnected with each conduit, depending stems connected with the valves,and means for actuating the stems for simultaneously opening and closingthe said valves at predetermined intervals during the rotary travel ofthe trays, for the purpose set forth.

11. The combination with a rotary frame, of a series of tiltably mountedfiltering trays mounted thereon and rotating therewith, a conduitconnected with the bottom of each tray, a number of pipes in commoncommunication with the said conduit of each tray, a corresponding numberof circle tubes in common communication with the corresponding pipes ofall the trays, and a number of pumps corresponding with the number oftubes and in respective communication with the latter, means for feedingthe material to be treated to each tray in a predetermined position inits rotary travel, means for drawing off the solution from each tray,means for tilting the tray for dumping purposes, and means forsubsequently restoring it to its horizontal position at a predeterminedpoint in its rotary travel, for the purpose set forth.

12. The combination with a rotary frame, of a series of filtering traysmounted thereon and rotating therewith, a conduit con nected with eachtray, a number of pipes mounted on the said frame and in commoncommunication with the conduit of each tray, a number of circle tubescorresponding a series of filtering trays mounted on the said frame androtating therewith, a conduit connected with the bottom of each tray,

her of circle tubes corresponding with the number of pipes of each traysurrounding the hollow column and in respective and common communicationwith the corresponding pipes of all the trays, a pump in communicationwith each tube through the hollow column, means for feeding material tobe treated to each tray at a predetermined position in its rotarytravel, means for drawing off the solution from each tray, means fortilting the tray for dumping purposes, and means for subsequentlyrestoring it to its horizontal position, at a predetermined point in itsrotary travel, substantially as described.

14. The combination of a rotary frame including a hollow Verticallydisposed column, a series of horizontally disposed filtering traysmounted on the frame and rotating therewith, a conduit connected withthe bottom of each tray, a number of pipes mounted on the rotary frameand in communication with the conduit of each tray, a number of circulartubes mounted on the frame surrounding the hollow column andcorresponding in number with the said conduits of each tray, said tubesbeing in respective and in common communication with the correspondingconduits of all the trays, a single pipe connected with each tube andleading into the hollow column, valves located in each conduit,depending stems connected with each valve, and means lying in the pathof said stems for actuating the stems to simultaneously open and closethe valves, and a pump in communication with each of the last namedpipes through the hollow column, substantially as described.

15. The combination with a rotary frame, of a series of horizontallydisposed filtering trays tiltably mounted thereon, means for feeding thematerial to be treated to each tray at a predetermined location in itsrotary travel, means for drawing off the solution from each. tray, meansfor tilting each tray to the dumping position at a predeter-.

v HARRY E. KIER.

Witnesses: I

F. ORGAN, 3.. MaSIPPn'r'r.

